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New Zealand In With Chance of Podium Finishes |
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Written by Ben Kennings
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Sunday, 13 May 2007 |
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Paige Hareb - Image courtsy of Jake White
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The strong performance of the Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team has continued on day seven of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships with three podium finishes in sight. Paige Hareb (Tara) has moved through to the last six girls in the under 18s alongside Matt Hewitt (Mnt) in the under 16 boys. As such they have put the team into fifth position and within striking distance of a runner up finish. The team suffered two individual losses over the day with Tim O’Connor (Mnt) and Buck Woods (Gis) bowing out of the event along with the New Zealand tag team who were beaten by France and Hawaii at the end of the day.
Paige Hareb kicked off the day with the best possible start winning her round five heat with a win after scoring 12.20 to beat Laura Enever (Aus) and Tarryn Chudleigh (Zaf). Paige got stuck into the heat early racking up two good scores before the South African had even had a wave. The pressure told and Hareb never looked like finishing the heat anywhere but in first position. Hareb is now one heat away from the grand final and a chance of becoming a junior world champion. To get there Hareb will first have to overcome Allesa Quizon (Haw), Ashley Smith (Aus) and Laura Enever (Aus) to make the finals.
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Tim O'Connor - Image courtesy of Jake White
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Tim O’Connor surfed through one round early in the day but came up agonisingly short in round nine in what commentators were calling the best heat of the entire event. O’Connor held the lead early in the heat after scoring a 7.70 on his first wave and then another 7.0 point ride. However his opponents were also some of the best junior surfers in the world and his lead was never safe. American standout Cory Arrambide took control midway through the heat with an amazing 9.4 point ride to take the lead then the Brazilian surfer Jadson Andre scored a pair of 8.0 point rides to surpass O’Connor’s 15.04 heat total. After taking second the Brazilian never left the side of O’Connor hassling him out of position. As much as he tried, O’Connor could only catch the smaller waves and had to settle for third place ahead of Hawaiian surfer Kai Barger. O’Connor finished an excellent 7th place overall equalling that of Morehu Roberts (Rag) as the best achievement by an under 18 boys surfer in six years.
Under 16 surfer Buck Woods also suffered elimination in round seven. Woods was up against Davey Cathels, one of Australia’s hottest talents and Shaun Joubert of South Africa. Both surfers pushed their scores wave after wave until Woods was left requiring an 8.4 point ride for progression. With time running out Woods rode a nice wave and went for broke with an aerial manoeuvre to finish the wave with an exclamation mark but fell and his hopes were dashed when he finished with a 10.96 heat total. Woods finished the event placed 11th which was a great result for the talented young surfer.
The Rip Curl New Zealand team was then eliminated from the tag team event late in the day when France and Hawaii moved through to the last four. Hawaii beat New Zealand by a meagre 0.7 points. Last year New Zealand placed third in the tag team event.
The New Zealand team with two surfers remaining in the event on the final day are in familiar territory with a number of other teams. Australia are streaks ahead with seven surfers remaining in the event but powerhouse nations Brazil, Hawaii, USA and France all have two surfers remaining as well. This will make the finals day points race ultra tight with high expectations riding on every single heat. While New Zealand could finish as high as runner up if results go their way, they could also finish as low as sixth. This assures the Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team of bettering their 2006 performance when they finished seventh overall.
Please see below for results from day seven for the Rip Curl New Zealand Team competing at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships.
Team points after day seven
1, Australia - 7105
2, Hawaii - 5172
3, Brazil - 5168 4, France - 4903
5, New Zealand - 4786
6, USA - 4768
7, South Africa - 3826
8, Tahiti - 3565
9, Japan - 3235
10, Portugal - 2805
The World Junior Surfing Championships is an annual event having been held since 2003. New Zealand has competed at the event since its inception as well as competing at the World Grommet Titles as it was formerly known since 1989. New Zealand has been one of the top nations at each event with Jay Quinn (Gis) securing New Zealand’s first World Championship in the Under 18 Men’s division in 2001. New Zealand has placed 7th at the last three World Junior Championships. A record twenty-eight countries will compete at the event in 2007.
The last day of the event will be broadcast live over the net via www.isasurf.org and www.eu.quiksilver.com. Media releases on the team’s performance will be distributed daily throughout the event. For further information regarding the Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team, please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 07 8250018, 0212278732 or email benkennings@surfingz.co.nz.
The tour would not be possible without the support of Rip Curl, New Zealand Community Trust and Surfing New Zealand.
The tour would not be possible without the support of Rip Curl, New Zealand Community Trust and Surfing New Zealand.
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Ends
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